The Los Angeles high school student whose gun injured two classmates when it accidentally fired was Wednesday not expected to be charged with attempted murder, but rather will face charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

According to the Los Angeles Times, prosecutors have not said when they will formally charge the 17-year-old suspect or whether he will be charged as an adult.

On Tuesday, a 15-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy were shot at Gardena High School, located about 15 miles (24km) south of downtown Los Angeles, after a weapon fired from inside a backpack, discharging a round of bullets.

The girl was in critical condition after being shot in the head while the boy, who was shot in the neck, was listed in serious condition.

It was not known how the weapon was brought into the school undetected, but police sources told the Times that the student may have been the victim of bullying and had brought the gun for protection.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of this incident today at Gardena High School,” he said. “No student should ever fear for his or her life within the halls and classrooms of our schools.”

“We must work together to ensure safety in and around our schools so that all students can benefit from an environment conducive to learning. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two victims of this tragic accident.”

Los Angeles high school’s board members met Tuesday to review their weapons screening policy after the chaotic incident.

In a meeting with Gardena High School and district staff members Tuesday, the school district’s police chief Steven Zipperman said it was possible the suspect was not checked for weapons.

District officials require school administrators and staff to search students for weapons on Los Angeles city school campuses — it is left to principals to decide when and where to conduct them. A district policy memo has recommended daily searches at different times so they don’t become predictable.

School board member Richard Vladovic said he believed the school was following policy as he saw staff members searching students with handheld metal detectors when he visited the campus six months ago.

Vladovic said securing a large campus such as Gardena was difficult as the school has about 3,100 students and takes up nearly two acres.

He said district officials would review their policies but “we can’t control every entrance and exit at every school all the time,” Vladovic said. “It would be physically impossible to do.”

Tuesday’s shooting was the second time a gun was found on a Los Angeles Unified School District campus since classes began this school year, according to district officers.

A gun was found at Sylmar High earlier this year. Officials found 11 firearms the year before and six in the 2008-09 school year.